Lights Out Iceland
While in Iceland, during the US autumn, the one thing I wanted more than anything else was to be able to witness the northern lights. Our trip corresponded with the beginning of the winter season. During Iceland’s winter time from September to April, the northern lights can be seen so long as the sky is dark and the night is clear.
It was our mission every night to be on the lookout. We stayed in Reykjavik for the first night. It’s the country’s capital and the largest city; tucked in along the southern shore on Faxa Bay. Being well lit and cloudy didn’t make for great conditions to see the lights, but we were hopeful on the following days to come.
Our next stop was the Golden Circle tour and sleeping in a bubble, which made it appear you were in nature but weren’t. The sky was clear and dark, but besides shooting stars, the milky way, and a million or two twinkling stars, the northern lights didn’t make an appearance. We actually thought it would have been the best chance of chasing and capturing the colors.
One night we had spent the day hiking and going deep into a volcano and forgot to look…..argh. We were so tired from the day it had completely slipped our minds. We woke the next morning and realized we might have missed a good opportunity. On a another night we chased the northern lights for a few hours; driving miles and miles late into the evening but again, fell short of a sighting.
Each night we would research the chance of seeing the lights based on weather and sky conditions. On our last night we were staying closer to the airport at an Airbnb in a random subdivision; what seemed like in the middle of nowhere. Sky conditions that night, were the least chance for a sighting during the entire trip. We had such a great time during the week, we decided it was OK it we didn’t get to see them.
We watched a movie and were enjoying our last night in Iceland when Brett, thought he’d just check one more time. Well……..he started bellowing for us, it was the northern lights! The remaining three of us were practically stumbling over each other trying to get our shoes and coats on, in the dark. All the lights were off in order to see the sky clearer. We must have sounded like a bunch of over dramatic tourists, as the oohs, aahs and squeals were louder than they should have been; since it was very late and we were on the back deck.
It was incredible to watch and hard to describe or explain. Colors started forming in wave-like fashion from one part of the sky and danced across in random patterns. Some would dance and sway longer than others, but magical just the same. The unexpected show went on for 25 to 30 minutes; we squealed the entire time. We had the most amazing week and then to end it with a spectacular show. Now….I could go home, my trip was complete. Lights out, Iceland; you were a gem.
xoxox…..Sheryl